PHRENICECTOMY IN THE TREATMENT OF PULMONARY DISEASES

Abstract

While much has been written about phrenicectomy, few reporters have evaluated the results of the operation in a large series of cases. This article, in which the late results of phrenicectomy performed by the surgical staff of the University Hospital for various pulmonary diseases are considered, is presented as a contribution toward a better appreciation of the indications for the procedure. HISTORY In 1911, Stuertz¹ first suggested paralyzing half the diaphragm by division of the phrenic nerve in the base of the neck, in order to relax a diseased lower lobe which could not be compressed by artificial pneumothorax. He believed that it was especially indicated in basal bronchiectasis and tuberculosis. Sauerbruch,² in 1913, reported five cases in which he had performed phrenicotomy. In the next few years the operation was performed by other European surgeons for a variety of pulmonary lesions. Walther,³ in 1914, showed that